TWITTER the Hops To Freedom

The Free the Hops supporters are urging Alabamians who TWITTER to send Senator Hank Erwin a message asking him to allow a Senate vote on Free the Hops. It seems ol Hank is busy once again thwarting the will of the people and trying to impose his own 'morality' on the rest of us. And he is bragging about it in Twitter. It should have been clear to Hank when the bill to allow Shelby Co. restaurants to continue serving alcohol on Sunday was passed, then vetoed by the Governor and then had the veto overrode by the House that people want alcohol in his district (and all others). None of us really give a damn what Hank Erwin thinks about beer or drinking. He doesn't have to drink if he is opposed to it...but that is no reason to stop others from doing so by using the threat of government force.

Mayhap Hank Erwin needs to be reminded about the first miracle of Christ, which, if my memory serves me correctly, was turning water into wine.

Anyhoo, GO HERE to get tweeting instructions.

With any luck we will only have one more year of this moron in Alabama government. He'll never be elected Lt. Gov. and Cam Ward will easily take his seat in the Senate. I wonder if Hank will move to Afghanistan and join the Taliban? He'd damn sure fit right in.

By Gum...Now Here's A Weird One For You

Me and Alabama State Senator Hank Erwin (R)- Montevallo. Hank Erwin is my nemisis in Alabama politics.

Salvia Ban Unlikely to Pass

Time running out to ban hallucinogenic plant in
Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Tuesday is the deadline for
Alabama legislators to decide whether they are going
to ban the sale of a mind-altering plant in Alabama.

Two bills to outlaw the plan — Salvia divinorum — are
awaiting a vote in the Senate. But Tuesday is the last
day for the bills to pass in the nearly completed 2008
legislative session.

Nine states have already banned this form of salvia or
restricted its sale. One Senate sponsor, Hank Erwin,
says the chances of passing his bill Tuesday are slim.

Now if only Hank's chances of being re-elected were slim we'd have it made. As I have said before Alabama already has more than enough people in jail for use of natural plants and if these boneheads in Montgomery insist on banning 'problem plants' then they should focus on kudzu, privet, poison oak and poison ivy...for starters.

In fact, I will now be on the hunt for a brave legislator willing to introduce a bill that would mandate the creation and funding of a KUDZU TASK FORCE.

(H/T to Brandon Wynn)


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An Update on the Salvia Bill SB15

In yesterday's Senate Judiciary CMTE meeting SB15 was slated to come up for a vote. I put the word out to my crew to call all members of the Senate Judiciary committee and tell them to vote NO on the bill to outlaw salvia and apply the same penalties as are currently imposed on cannabis consumers. We have plenty of folk in jail...thank you!

I do not know what happened to the bill. It was not reported on in the Montgomery Advertiser's "Summary of Action" and all it says on ALISON is that the bill is pending action in the house of origin.

Whether that means all the phone calls made the clowns in our senate stop and actually consider what they were about to do or whether it means they just didn't get around to that particular bill yesterday I haven't a clue.

I would have already called today but had to go to Birmingham and when I got back I put my dog outside in his fence where he promptly escaped and began tearing up and down the road terrorizing the neighbors. I finally caught him after an hour in a neighbor's yard terrorizing their sweet baby girl German Shepherd. She looks to be about 10 weeks old and she followed me home so I have her in the house until her owners return from work because she will get smashed in the road otherwise. Man she is PRECIOUS and will make a great girlfriend for Saul when she is old enough. I'll be telling the owners when I return her that if they ever want to get rid of her to PLEASE let me know.

Here is a very bad photo of her at my feet like the loyal, sweet thing her breed is known for being.



As soon as I find out about the salvia bill I'll post an update.



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The Salvia Bill

There has been a great deal of interest on the bill to outlaw salvia and apply the same penalties currently imposed on non-violent marijuana consumers.

The bill SB15 will come up in the Senate Judiciary committee for a vote on TODAY March 5, 2008 at 11:30 am. This was added to the calendar since yesterday giving those of us who oppose this bill very little time to act.

Call the following members of the Senate Judiciary Committee RIGHT NOW and ask them to vote NO on this bill. We already have way too many people in jail or prison for use of natural plants. We don't need any more. Prohibition has never worked. Salvia is a non-problem but will become a problem if this bill passes.

GO HERE to find out who is on the Senate Judiciary Committee and call them NOW!!!

I have already called and emailed all of the Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee. PLEASE DO SO NOW before the 11:30 session begins.


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Salvia Letter in the BHAM News

The Birmingham News ran my salvia letter today.

Wrong to Outlaw Salvia Plant



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Why Crusade Against Plants?

I do believe the Tuscaloosa News has the fastest turn around on letter's to the editor of any paper in the state. The ones I send in always seem to run the next day.

Here is my latest that was published regarding Senaotrs' Bedford & Erwin's raging, moralistic, hard-on to ban all things pleasurable.

Why Crusade Against Plants?

Dear Editor: When I read the article regarding the bill by Sens. Roger Bedford and Hank Erwin to outlaw the little-known plant salvia, I could only shake my head in dismay. Their attempt to make it illegal and apply the same penalties currently imposed on non-violent marijuana consumers is absolutely absurd. What - we don't have enough people in Alabama jails and prisons for use of natural plants?

This seems like a coordinated campaign nationally. My guess it is coming from the DEA. It is outrageous, since salvia is a non-problem - but maybe if they prohibit it they can change that, seeing as how prohibition of other plants and their derivatives has worked so well in the past and all.

Once these legislative clowns make it illegal, we will see a huge jump in its use by kids. We'll see prison imposed for possession of a geranium plant, lives ruined, forced treatment, drug court and all kinds of crazy stuff that we don't see now when it is legal and not widely known all because of their raging, moralistic crusade to outlaw anything that might give someone else pleasure. What will they outlaw next, spinning around in circles until you get dizzy? That also alters ones state of consciousness.

If our legislative body truly wanted to go after problem plants then might I suggest kudzu and privet?

Loretta Nall

Alexander City







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These Clowns Need To Stop It!

Senators Roger Bedford & Hank Ewrin seek to outlaw salvia

Alabama legislators: This salvia is no pretty flower
2/24/2008, 12:39 p.m. CST
By PHILLIP RAWLS
The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Two Alabama legislators are trying to ban a type of salvia. But they're not trying to rid Southern flower beds of the red and blue flowers popular in the region.

Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, and Sen. Hank Ewrin, R-Montevallo, have proposed bills that would classify salvia divinorum as an illegal drug with the same punishment as marijuana.

Daniel Siebert, a California pharmacognosist who studies the medicinal properties of plants, said the legislation goes too far.

"Salvia is a valuable medicinal herb that should be available to people," he said.

Salvia divinorum is a sage-like plant that is related to the colorful flowers called salvia or red and blue sage. Bedford's and Erwin's bills only cover the one type.

"Everyone's flower bed is safe," Bedford said.

Salvia divinorum is usually smoked or eaten. It has hallucinogenic properties when used in large amounts and, because it is unregulated in most states, it is widely available on the Internet and in some shops.

Many parents have never heard of it, "but the kids know it," Erwin said.

Erwin and Bedford said they haven't heard of many problems in Alabama, but they are trying to act before use becomes widespread.

(Yeah that's worked real well in the past hasn't it?)

Bedford's bill breezed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on an unanimous vote Wednesday and is now awaiting a vote in the Senate. Erwin's bill is awaiting action by the Judiciary Committee.

(I was completely unaware of these bills or I would have been lobbying against them)

If either bill passes, Alabama would not be acting alone.

Delaware, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, and Illinois have passed criminal laws similar to the Alabama proposals. Tennessee has made it a misdemeanor offense, and Maine has banned the sale to people under 18.

Salvia divinorum is native to Mexico and has been used for many years by the Mazatec Indians for rituals and as a healing agent. As its use expanded beyond Mexico, several countries bannned it, including Australia, Denmark and Sweden, but not the United States.

Siebert, who produces a Web site called "Sage Wisdom," says salvia divinorum can help with meditation, introspection and psychotherapy.

"It produces an introspective state of awareness," he said.

Seibert, of Malibu, said its effects are short-lived and it is not addictive. He said he would prefer to see Alabama do what Maine did and treat it like alcohol by banning the sale to minors.

"I don't think that's a good approach," Bedford said. "You are legalizing the use of something we don't have enough scientific data about."

No, Senator Bedford...YOU are making the use of something you know nothing about ILLEGAL.

Salvia Divinorum is related to the geranium plant. I have tried salvia a few times and it never did anything to me at all. Others who have used it report a very short lived psychadelic effect. Psychadelics are not known to be addictive. I've never known anyone to get hooked on salvia....it just doesn't happen. We grew it for many years and it is a beautiful plant. Hell, the cops seized large bags of salvia and catnip when they illegally raided my home in November of 2002.

Once these legislative clowns make it illegal we will see a huge jump in its use by kids. We'll see prison imposed for possession of a geranium plant, lives ruined, forced treatment and drug court and all kinds of crazy shit that we don't see now when it is legal and not widely known all because of their raging, moralistic, hard-on to outlaw anything that might give someone else pleasure.

Will they ever learn?





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Sen. Hank Erwin Declares War on Divorce

Montgomery Advertiser

Bill would put parents' divorces on hold

A new bill before the Alabama Legislature requires a waiting period of 365 days before a divorce becomes final if the divorcing couple has children younger than 18.

Under existing law, a court can make a divorce final 30 days after filing, said Sen. Hank Erwin, the bill's sponsor. Erwin, R-Montevallo, believes the extra time will open the door to more counseling and opportunities for reconciliation.

Erwin understands the bill's chances for passage are slim for this session, but he wants to get the dialogue started on how to make more marriages last.

There isn't anyone in the Alabama Senate that I dislike more than Hank Erwin. Dislike isn't nearly a strong enough word....so let me explain. When good ol' Hank is called home to meet his maker I hope he goes out by getting hit by a Greyhound bus full of homosexuals on their way to gamble in New Orleans. Any questions?

Hank seems to think it is his 'christian duty' to abolish a woman's right to choose, ban tax-paying, law-abiding, gay citizens from getting married and now the Christian death-cult buffoon wants to regulate how long straight couples with children under 18 have to wait before they can divorce.

What BUSINESS is it of Hank Erwin's or the Alabama legislature if a couple with children decide to sever the knot?

The government should NEVER BE GIVEN THE POWER to REGUALTE MARRIAGE or DIVORCE! It is NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS. These are PRIVATE FAMILY MATTERS!!!

Hank Erwin's 'War on Divorce' will probably go about as well as the government's war on poverty and war on drugs has gone.....which means that in a year people won't even be getting married anymore and they will just shack up instead. Now, wouldn't that be poetic justice?

I wish someone would introduce a bill that would ban Hank Erwin from introducing bills that seek to regulate and exert government control over private family matters that are NONE OF HIS BUSINESS. Hell, let's go one step further and just ban this jackass from initroducing any bill of any kind whatsoever. We'll all be much safer.

Patriotic Protests, Apologetic Reporters, and The Ultimate Bizarre Political Bed Feller

Ahhhhhhhh.....nothing makes me feel prouder to be an American than a good, old-fashioned, protest and that is just what we had on the steps of the Alabama State House yesterday to let our elected officials know just how unhappy we are about their outrageous pay increase of 62% and their sneaky, slimy, underhanded way of passing it into law. Between 300 to 400 people showed up with signs after Matt Murphy and the crew at 101.1 The Source put out the call to thier listeners to descend on the Capitol and raise a little hell. It was the largest protest I have seen in Montgomery in some time.

Congratulations Matt and crew for a job well done!!

I know, in the end, the good people who made the trip yesterday may feel that they didn't accomplish anything because the legislature overrode the veto. But they did, in fact, accomplish a great deal. Since we do not have a recorded vote on the first passage of this payraise it is impossible to know how many legislators changed their minds, but I'd bet it was quite high. I spoke with a few before the vote who said they were voting no when they had been considering voting yes. Lots of legislators were looking out their windows.

The protest participants showed the legislature that we are, in fact, willing to travel to Montgomery and confront them on this issue. Not only confrontation in front of the State House, but also inside the State House, as many participants also lobbied their elected official face to face after the protest was over. I cannot overstate how important those meetings were and how important it is to do that each and every time you disagree with what our governing body is doing. Protest is important, but walking into your elected oficials office and looking them in the eye and saying "I, as your constituent, do not approve of this piece of legislation and I will not forget it come election time" is absolutely priceless.

It was an all around fun day for me. As I stated earlier, I love to protest. I get a pure adreniline rush off of it. Yesterday's was particularly good as it was a great mix of people and many of them were fans of mine from the election and others wanted to know more about the "STOP ARRESTING PATIENTS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA" t-shirt I was wearing and about what they could do to help get the Compassionate Care Act passed. I was practically mobbed as soon as I arrived and I was really surprised by that. I didn't expect so many people to know who I am and I didn't expect so many others that didn't know me to be interested in medical marijuana. I made a lot of new contacts. These kinds of contacts are the best kind because they have already shown that they are willing to be active for a cause they believe in. It doesn't get much better than that.



As you can see from the photo above the media was out in force yesterday. Every news station in the state was there it seemed along with hordes of reporters form many newspapers. And then, the weirdest thing happened. A reporter who had written an article about me that I was not particularly fond of during the election, came over and said hello. This reporter then proceeded to apologize for the way the article came out and said it was not intended to be that way, but was edited after submission. This reporter said they understood I was pretty unhappy about it and they wanted me to know that they were sorry and that they had actually voted for me. I have to say that made me feel pretty good. I accepted their apology and told them that, while I did not like the tone of the article there was nothing in it that was untrue, I was mostly unhappy about how it was presented. I also said I wasn't really mad because I understand that when you put yourself in the public spotlight then these things happen and you have to just kind of roll with it. I don't think I have ever had a reporter apologize to me for a smear piece. I find it absolutely astounding. Wow! I know such a thing has to be rare.

Jeff Sanders from Channel 8 stopped and said hello. I didn't recognize him and had him confused with a legislator and for that I apologize. I think Jeff only interviewed me once during the election and that was at my news conference in April of 06 after I had secured the LP nomination. I also saw Monica Allen from Channel 8 and got a hug from her. Monica is a gem! Rhonda Colvin of APTV's Capitol Journal asked me for an interview for last nights show. Unfortunately, the show only contained a brief mention of the protest and no comments from anyone made the cut. This probably happened because the news at the end of the day was that the legislature overrode the veto. That's too bad. The protest was an important part of yesterday and deserved more coverage. My comments were also good. I basically said that most Alabamians would not have had a problem with a reasonable pay raise for the legislature that was conducted out in the open with a recorded vote the first go round, but that what happened was nothing short of robbery. Rhonda asked me about the money the legislators have to spend on gas, hotels and food. I told her that I campaigned for a whole year, drove my own car which required gas, stayed in numerous hotels rooms and ate every day for way less that what a legislator currently makes for three months work. I said if a legislator cannot afford to eat out at lunch then they should pack a tuna sandwich.



And in perhaps the strangest and most unexpected twist of the day I found myself shaking the hand of Senator Hank Erwin ....yeah...the same Hank Erwin of "God sent Katrina to destroy New Orleans" and Hank's Home for Alabama's Inbred fame and thanking him for his rejection of this pay increase. He spoke at the protest and he is a consumate politician. An excellent speaker. I had no idea that he was capable of such intelligent speech that didn't involve his warped and very frightening religious views. I also live by the code of not only telling legislators when they do wrong but making sure to also praise them when they do right.....even when it is Senator Hank Erwin.

After the protest I walked over to him and introduced myself. I told him that I have never once agreed with him on anything, but that I was very pleased with his words to the protesters and his encouragement of their continued involvement in the political process. I mentioned ballot access being a problem because it eleminates competition and he seemed agreeable that the laws need to be changed. He thanked me and asked for my contact information. I gave him a card and asked him his position on medical marijuana. He said he is against it which was no surprise. I told him that I would like to sit down with him sometime and have a discussion to see if maybe he wouldn't change his mind. He said to come by his office anytime. He may not ever change his mind but at least he is open to discussion and that is a start. While I was standing there in my medical marijuana t-shirt talking to him, my friend Debbie Murphree walked up and snapped a photo. That one will be one for the history books. I'll post a copy as soon as I get one from Debbie. Talk about politics making for strange bed fellers....Lordy!

Here is a video clip of the protest. You can see me at the very end but only my head.

Here is a photo gallery of the protest.

Click here to find out how your elected officials voted. Then click here to find your representative and either Thank them or Spank them by emailing, calling, writing a letter or paying them a visit to express your thoughts on this issue.